mag hytec rear end cover & fluid level

[robertyoke]

For those of you who have the mag hytec rear end covers on 11. 5 inch aam, what fluid level indicator are you using? The weep hole on the mag hytec is about the same height as the stock cover, but the dipstick mark amount would put the fluid about an inch higher. I'm concerned about foaming the gear lube. Is anybody running it that high and having any problems? There was a lot of concern about the height of fluid in the American axles. Just want to be safe. Thanks. Robert.

 

[Rosco]

You have a PM.

 

[Posm]

I need to know the same thing. I looked at the level as compared to the stock cover and it seems to be 1 1/4 inches higher to the low mark and 1 3/4 inches higher to the full mark. I am not comfortable "overfilling" the diff. that much. I called Mag Hytec and they told me their "tech dept" would be out of the country for a week. What gives with this level? Roscoe come clean!



Bryan

 

[Rosco]

Posm,



I don't remember what I told robertyoke in the PM. It probably had to do with the issues I had with the Mag-Hytec cover. I bought one of the covers last year but at the time Mag-Hytec had not released the Dodge specific cover. I had the one designed for the GM AAM 11. 5'' axle. This cover required the user to fill in the bottom bolt hole in the axle with RTV. Mine of course leaked which irritated me. Also, I noticed an interference with the spare tire during full suspension articulation.



Whether or not this is what my PM said I can't be sure. But if I were you I would try and be as close to the Dodge/AAM recommended fill level as possible.

 

[Bertram65]

I do not have a Mag cover but I have followed a couple threads about it, if you do a search you should be able to find the info. Someone in one of the threads measured the height of the stock fill plug than figured it took just over 5 quarts to bring it to that same level with the Mag cover in place, although it seems to take from 7 to 8 quarts to reach the full mark on the dipstick so there is no doubt the level is much higher than stock. I do not know if it would cause any problems or not, but myself I would want to have it as the stock level.

 

[robertyoke]

I have the fluid at the marks on the dip stick, and for 7~8 thousand miles and it seems to be fine. I just checked it and there was just a little bit of fuzz on the magnet. most dip sticks you check with them resting on the threads, but the instructions say to screw this one in till the o-ring touches.

 

[Kirwin]

Mag-Hytech fluid level

I've put about 4K miles on mine now and I have it filled to 1/8" below the top line on the dip stick. No problems so far. I did fill the bottom bolt hole with RTV per Mag-Hytecs instructuions with no leakage. I just installed the temperature sensor this last week and this differential seems to run cooler that the Dana 80. I saw max of 160 F pulling 11. 5K on a 60 mile trip with ambient temperature of 70 F this last weekend. Temperartue was still rising after 60 miles but quite slowly. There is a thread I started called "I changed my rear differential oil and ... " That discusses your concerns with fluid level. You ccan search and find it. Ken Irwin

 

[Posm]

I put the fluid level at the lower mark and will try to get a better explanation from the folks at Mag Hytech next week. It appears that the correct dipstick is not being used for this application. The instructions tell where the oil should be in relation to the axles and the tubes in non-standard trucks. The recomended full level would be 1 1/2 to 2 inches higher than this. I will post back when I get the info.



Bryan

 

[Grunt]

Posm... you ever get any new info from the folks at mag-hytec?

 

[COhara]

I had the old universal cover and it leaked also. talked to mag hytec & they replaced it for free. I filled to the upper line on dipstick(almost 8qts. )I developed a pinion leak (minor)spray on under side of truck. Dropped level down some(bottom line)need to clean and check. My truck has the gear whine,don't know if that had any thing to do with it leaking.

 

[Po' Riggity]

I foaming really an issue with the mag hytec stuff? Ive always filled my diffs on all my vehicles till they were full, and never had an issue.

Scott

 

[Cattletrkr]

Before I pulled the plug on my Mag for the first time, I drove around for a few minutes to warm it up. No towing and no racing, just a little warm up. When I pulled the drainplug a rather large amount of the oil came out foamy. Not what I wanted to see. I had the oil level between the two marks on the dipstick. I refilled it to the level plug and we'll see what happens next time I change it.



Whenever I pulled the dipstick to check the level, the oil looked normal, but I must have cleaned the magnet 3-4 times. It was COVERED with filings. Not sure if oil level had anything to do with that or not.

 

[Posm]

Sorry I did not report back sooner, but I did not get any information or warm fuzzy feelings from Mag Hytec. I called the first time and got the Wife of the organization. She told me the husband was out of the country and I should call back in a week or so. She stated "He is the only one who know anything. " After a week I called back and a Hispanic gentleman with broken english said I should just "feel er up". He also told me to call back when "the man" was available. I called back once more and got the wife. I have not tried back since. I think that M-H should tell us why they are filling higher than what the manufacturer saw fit. I would not buy this product again if I had it to do over again. The piece itself has great fit and finish, I am worried about the research that went into the design as well as the customer service.



Bryan

 

[LightmanE300]

Maybe this sounds stupid, but what is the point of these covers and their 'additional capacity' if you can't fill them up higher than the stock level anyway? Are these essentially ricer mods at this point? I don't buy the heat sink crap - as far as I'm concerned the 'intended' point of these covers is to offer additional fluid capacity and a drain plug for easier servicing...

 

[Posm]

Lightman

The capacity can be added by making the reservoir larger/deeper. I know of no gearbox or engine that performs better when overfilled. Their are some instances that an overfill can be catastrophic. The M-H cover does offer higher fluid capacity even at the stock fill height.

The drain plug seems to work as advertised.

 

[Cattletrkr]

If I was to do it over again, I'd get a PML cover instead. $100 less and just as functional. All I wanted was a drain plug, which the PML has. Didn't know about PML until about a day after I installed the Mag. If it's looks you're after, the Mag does indeed look awesome. Even had a Furd guy compliment mine.

 

[TTubb]

If I was to do it over again, I'd get a PML cover instead. $100 less and just as functional. All I wanted was a drain plug, which the PML has. Didn't know about PML until about a day after I installed the Mag. If it's looks you're after, the Mag does indeed look awesome. Even had a Furd guy compliment mine.

Where can you get a "PML" cover? Terry

 

[Bertram65]

Maybe this sounds stupid, but what is the point of these covers and their 'additional capacity' if you can't fill them up higher than the stock level anyway? Are these essentially ricer mods at this point? I don't buy the heat sink crap - as far as I'm concerned the 'intended' point of these covers is to offer additional fluid capacity and a drain plug for easier servicing...

The covers are deeper than the stock cover that is how the additional capacity of achieved, if the cover is designed correctly like the PML the level is the same as stock.

I have the PML, got it direct from www.yourcovers.com great people to deal with great product.

*Edit* yourcovers.com is PML, factory direct

 

[Cattletrkr]

Where can you get a "PML" cover? Terry

There are a few vendors with ads in the latest issue of TDR. Any one of them I'm sure would be glad to help you out. I kinda wish Geno's would start handling them. My guess is the mark-up isn't a big with the PML's though.

 

[Kirwin]

Mag-Hytec advantages

I agree with you lightmanE300. The main advantage to me is allowing easy fluid changes with out having to do any under truck RTV replacement. The 03 has a reusable cover gasket so that is one less reason to need the Mag-Hytec cover on the 03 and later trucks. The magnetic dipstick is a nice feature, but I wanted it mostly to make it easier to change the differential oil. As far as level, I don't know what with the level being 1. 5" higher would hurt. Obviously you can over fill the pumpkin but I'm of the opinion that the oil level is not in a static place with the pinion turning at 2500 RPM. The cover has been changed since the introduction of the AAM axle on the Ram HD with a corresponding change in the required level. I continue to monitor my axle for any indication of an overfill condition so far so good. Ken irwin